Paper-feeding machine.



Patented Mar. l2,` |90I.

W. BRIDGEWATER. PAPER FEEDING MACHINE.

(Application led Oct. 9,. 00.)

(N0 Model.)

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Ypaper on the table.

NrTnD STATES innen.

PAPER-FEEDING MACHINE.

`SPECI]3I(`JA'.TLIO1\T forming part of Letters Patent No. 669,678, dated March 12, 1901.

Application filed October 9, 1900. Serial No. 32,547. lNo model.)

To 'ally/72,0171, it may oon/cern.l

Be it known that I, WILLIAM BRIDGEWA- TER,`a subject of the Queen of England, and a resident of 34 St. Peters Lane, Leicester, in the county of Leicester, England, have invented certain Improvemints in Paper-Feeding Machines, of which the following is a speciiication.

This invention relates to improvements in paper and like feeding machines whereby the table carrying the pile of paper or the like is automatically adjusted to the separating and feeding mechanism, so that as each top sheet is delivered from the pile the table is slightly adjusted to bring the next sheet into contact with the-separating and feeding mechanism. The table is balanced by counterpoise-weights, and it has attached to its `under side a rack or racks working in suitable guides on the side frames of the 'machine. One or more pinions'gearing with the rack or racks are fixed on a rack-shaft which is supported in bearings in the side frames. The said rack-shaft also carries a differentially-grooved scroll-cam, and a band or the like passed around the. said scroll-cam has a weight attached equivalent to the Weight of The said weight acts through the scroll-cam, rack-shaft, and pinions, thereby lifting the racks, and consequently raising the table, as he Jsheets of paper or the like are successiv 'ly' delivered to the machine.

The mechanism above described raises the table and paper thereon into contact with the separating and feeding mechanism; but to insure the accurate adjustment of the table and paper to its exact height a clutch device is mountedA upon the before-mentioned rackshaft and is actuated by a lever from a cam on the driving-shaft of the machine. This said clutch device is adapted to be adjusted to different textures of paper and automatically acts so that as each successive sheet is delivered from the pile and the latter, with the table, is raised, as before described, the clutch mechanism is adjusted so that it will slip or give way as soon as each successive top sheet of the pile has been raised to give sufficient contact-surface with the separating and feeding mechanism. Mechanism is also provided which, while allowing the table to be raised freely, prevents a downward or return movement.

The invention will be clearlyunderstood by the following further description, reference being made to the accompanying drawings.

Eigu re l represents avertical cross-section; Eig. 2, a vertical longitudinal section of the apparatus embodied in this invention, and Fig. 3 is a sectional plan taken on the line Z Z of Fig. l. Fig. 4 is a face view of the scroll-cam, and Eig. 5 is a detail hereinafter referred to.

The tab"`le A (upon which the pile of paper or the like a is placed) is carried upon the brackets or projections B B, integral with or secured tothe slides C C, and the latterhave a vertical movement in the guides D D, formed with or attached to the side frames D' D2 of the machine. To impart the necessary vertical movement to the said slides, a differential scroll-cam E is iixed upon a rack-shaft F, which is carried in bearings F F' on the side frames D D2. A band or equivalent E has one end fixed to the boss of the said scrollcam and is wound around it, finally passing from the larger point thereof over a pulley, (not shown,) and at the end of said band a weight is carried. It follows that as the pile of paper upon the table decreases the Weight will gradually lower, rotating The said cam E in the direction of the arrow. (See Fig. 4..) Consequently as the band nears the center of the cam the power of the Weight is reduced as the pile of paper decreases. The said rackshaft F has fixed thereon the pinions G Gr, and the latter gear with the racks H H, preferably fixed to the slides C C.

To provide that the adjustment of the table A shall be accurate, the clutch mechanism, as before stated, is adapted to slip or give way, and thus counteract any undue pressure between the pile and the delivering mechanism, and to this end there are mounted upon the rack-shaft F a ratchet-Wheel J and clutchdisk J', the said wheel J being free and the clutch-disk J movable along a key fitted in said shaft. It will be obvious, however, that the ratchet-wheel may be movable and the disk free. The friction-disk is adjustable along the shaft by a split nut J3. The said disk J is faced with leather or equivalent IOO 'The said lever M is fulcrumed at N to the side frame D and carries at its upper end a roller O, which rides on the periphery of a cam P, xed on the main driving-shaft Q of the machine. As the said cam P revolves the paw] K racks around the ratchet-wheel J and frictionally turns with the shaft F and pinions G G to raise the racks HH and table A. Preferably four pawls R R R R of varying lengths are pivoted to a plate R', secured to the side frame D', to prevent any return movement of the wheelJ.

To provide against any return or downward movement of the table A, there are fixedr on the side frames D D2 two brackets S S, provided with inclined recesses T, and there is placed in each of such recesses a runner U, bearing against the edge ofthe slides C C, which will wedgethereagainst at any return or downward movement of the table A. A lever V is pivoted` at V to each bracket, and

the farther ends, of thesaid levers are connectedy by a bar W passing across the machine. This arrangement allows the operator at any time to raise the runners U.

I claim- 1. A table-raising mechanism, having in combination, raising mechanism, a rackshaft, a dierential scroll-cam for actuating said shaft and clutch mechanism adapted to give when the pile of paper or the like on the table is in sufcient contact with the separating and feeding mechanism, substantially as WILLIAM BRIDGEWATER. Witnesses:

T. S. SHOULER,

FRANK WEST. 

